Published: [14/03/2025]
For families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the fight for support has always been an uphill battle. But recent reports suggest that the system is reaching breaking point. From skyrocketing EHCP delays to councils running out of funding, parents are being left stranded—forced to navigate an increasingly hostile and under-resourced system alone.
What’s Happening Right Now?
A new wave of concerns has emerged across the UK regarding SEND provisions, and parents are feeling the impact:
🔴 EHCP Chaos – Delays in processing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) are worsening. The legal deadline for an EHCP assessment is 20 weeks, yet some councils are taking well over a year. In many cases, families are forced to appeal—leading to even longer waits.
🔴 Funding Crisis – Many councils are running multi-million-pound SEND budget deficits, leading to cutbacks in school places, transport, and crucial specialist support. The latest figures reveal that SEND transport costs alone are draining double what councils spend on fixing roads—yet children are still being left without school placements.
🔴 Legal Loopholes & Excuses – Schools and local authorities are increasingly citing “lack of resources” to deny support, despite their legal duty to provide adequate education. Some parents are being told their children must fall years behind their peers before being considered for an EHCP.
🔴 Tribunal Battles Are Rising – A record number of families are taking their councils to tribunal to fight for their child’s right to an education. The worst part? 96% of appeals against local authorities are successful—proving that these councils are failing children on an unacceptable scale.
The Impact on Families
For parents, these delays and rejections aren’t just frustrating—they’re life-changing. Many are:
⚠️ Forced to quit their jobs to homeschool their children.
⚠️ Battling burnout and declining mental health due to constant fighting.
⚠️ Spending thousands on private diagnoses, legal help, and therapy.
⚠️ Watching their child’s anxiety, self-esteem, and education suffer.
The system is pushing families to breaking point, and many parents are asking: Where do we go from here?
How AskEllie is Helping Parents Take Back Control
We created AskEllie because we’ve been in this fight ourselves. We know how isolating and exhausting it is to deal with the endless paperwork, legal jargon, and roadblocks put in place by local authorities.
💜 Ellie is an AI-powered legal assistant that gives parents instant, 24/7 support—completely free.
✔ Understand Your Rights – Ellie simplifies EHCPs, SEND law, and funding rules, so parents know exactly what they’re entitled to.
✔ Draft Powerful Responses – Struggling with a school rejection or council delay? Ellie helps you craft legally strong emails and appeals.
✔ Break Down Complex Documents – Copy and paste letters from councils, and Ellie will translate them into plain English, helping you take the right next steps.
✔ Support for Everyday Challenges – From sleep struggles to school refusals, Ellie provides practical advice, not just legal help.
🚀 Try AskEllie Now: [Insert Website Link]
The fight for SEND reform is far from over, but parents don’t have to battle alone. The more parents know their rights, the harder it is for councils to get away with failing children. Ellie is here to make sure no parent is left in the dark.
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